Refrigerating container



April 23, 1935.

J. 8. LITTLEFORD, JR

REFRIGERAITING CONTAINER Filed July 29, 1952 a Sheets-Sheet 1' ATTORNEYS April 23, 1935- J. s. LITTLEFORD, JR

REFRIGERATING CONTAINER Filed July 29, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV' ATTORNEYS A ril 23, 1935. J. s. LITTLEFORD, JR 1,998,631

REFRIGERATING CONTAINER Filed July 29, 1952" s Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 23, 1935 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATING CONTAINER John S. Littleford, J12, Fort Thomas, Ky., assignor to Littlelford Brothers, Cincinnati, Ohio, a copartncrship comprising John S. Littleford, Thomas S. Littleford, Roger S. Littleiord, John S. Littleford, Jr., and Bernice-L. Wadsworth Application July 29, 1932, Serial No. 625,914

13 Claims. (Cl. 62-915) My invention relates to refrigerating containers ing double walls filled with insulating material. and particularly to containers provided with dry Referring to'Figures 1, 2 and 3 and particuice compartments for preserving and keeping larly to Figure 3, the container shell forming the fresh vegetables and fruit. 1 side, end and bottom walls, is indicated at l.

- With the development of chain store organiza- The upper edge of the shell is flanged out- 5 tions, it has been customary for the delivery wardl'y as indicated at 2 and then turned downtrucks to visit the various stores in their locality wardly and inwardly so as to provide a rectanguduring the afternoon and to leave at that time lar opening which may receive a filler strip such the various fruits and vegetables which the store as is indicated at 3. I

will offer for sale on the following day. I have indicated a corrugated board shell 4! 10 It is primarily an object of my invention to fitting snugly about the metal walls of the conprovide a container for fruits and, vegetables tainer and secured in pos y means rails which will have a dry ice compartment nd 5 which extend along the bottom of the conwhich will be particularly suitable for the over teiner and y be ed to the bottom by night service of chain stores, I means of bolts and wing nuts such as are in- 15 Another object of my invention is to provide t d at 6- refrigerating container having walls encased in Comer k s 7 are riveted or Weld d to he corrugated paper or b x board d hi h ill inner walls of the" metal container and these accordingly give the appearance of fragility while brackets pp a a ated basket 8 which a container at the same time is strong and duhes Openings 9 n the S d a d nd Walls and 20 rable. which further has sufficient clearance from' the Another object of my invention is th provision metal walls of the container so that air passages of a refrigerating container having a metal top I] a provided through Which the oo 01 provided with a dry ice compartment which will h u s W vci cula e.

have air passages arranged for easy circulation ab y e pp r d of t e foraminated 25 so that the full efficiency of the vrefrigerant may basket will have a b U eenteining a e rcbe obtained. I ing strip and by cutting away the sides of the side Another object of my invention is the provision walls of thebasket as indicated at it, handles it of a container of the type noted having a, re ovare formed which facilitate the removal of the able tray which will fit within the container and as f o he C nta ner. 30 which will be so constructed as to further pro- The p of the container iS formed of framing mote circulation of the cooling air currents withstrips E5 to Which is Secured a o eel 1 in the container. fiber cover it, under'which is applied a layer of Another object of my invention is the provision insulating material M Such as balsa wood, yp-

of a metal container encased in a corrugated Sum beard t e like. 35 paper shell to insure careful handling of the con- The metal, wood fiber Plate M will ve a tainer but also in which, should the paper board Opening W to D a Space for the d y 10 become tom or fractured, it may b readily partment. Reinforcing cleats iii are indicated placed. which receive screws l9 which retain an alum- 40 Th above objects nd th objects t which inum or similar conductor plate 20, maintained in 40 reference will be made in the ensuing disclosure Spaced position from the Wooden Cover p o y I accomplish by that certain combination and its u n d up edges, which Contact tal lining l arrangement of parts of which I have shown a of the container walls when the lid is closed: preferred embodiment. Further wooden strips 2| form the side walls Referring t t drawings; of the refrigerating compartment and mount the 45 t Figure .1 is a perspective view of a preferred Plate A further insulating P 2 of e mety of tai ith th lid for t dry ice terial to part I4, which prevents direct exposure compartment d, of the bottom of the dry ice compartment, is held Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container in position by means of Screws 23 entering t with the container cover open, showing the inside Stripe l The dry ice Compartment s a metal- 50 removable t lic base formed by the conductor plate 20, 'wood- Figure 3 is a lateral sectional view as would en Side Walls formed by the pd an nappear if taken along the lines 3 3 in Figure 1. sulative lid 24 which fits within the opening l'I,

Figure 4 is a sectional view of'a modified type to which reference has previously been made.

. of container in which'the sides are of metal form- The dry ice compartment cover is preferably made of balsa wood with cork insulation lining the top and bottom of the wood. The compartment cover may have locking plates 25 which are pivotally mounted and the ends of which may seat under the edges oi. rivet heads 26 so that when the cover is placed in position on the lid, it will be retained without likelihood of its being shaken loose. Clasps 2i and latches 28 may be employed to secure the container cover in posi-= tion.

It will be noted that the dissipation of heat to the dry ice compartment will occur along the conductor plate 2t which is ioraminated as indicated at 29 so that air may circulate up through the openings in the plate 2d and thus maintain a more constant cold temperature within the container.

Plate 2@ is heavy gauge perforated aluminum or other metal of good thermal conductivity and is made to come in contact at its outer edges with metal shell i, thereby conducting heat to the refrigerating compartment from the entire inside surfaces of the container. The dry ice rests on the plate 20 and its major dissipation takes place where it contacts the plate.

Referring to Figure 4, the construction is the same as that shown in Figures l to 3 excepting that the container has sides and bottom walls constructed of balsa wood or similar material, lined both on the inside and outside with sheet metal. The insulated side walls oi. the modification shown in Figure 4 are indicated at to and the outer metal cover plates at M. Further, strips 32 are riveted along the bottom of the container to serve as skids and protect the bottom plate. In every other respect the container shown in. Figure 4 is identical with the container shown in Figures 1 to 3 so that the same reference characters have been applied to both figures. I

In use the device will be found to be very satisfactory. Because of the freedom for the circulation of air, the warm air within the container tends to rise under pressure of the cooling air which passes down around the vegetables or fruit within the container so that a constant temperature may be secured which will keep the various articles of food from spoiling. When the outer paper cover is used, this will by reason of its light weight and fragile appearance cause much greater care to be taken by employees in handling the containers and as has been stated, if the paper walls become broken or torn off, it will be a very simple thing to replace the paper cover. Paper further furnishes excellent insulation which is another advantage of the construction suggested.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A refrigerating metallic lined container having outer walls and an insulating outer covering for said walls, a cover for said container composed of insulative material, and a compartment within said cover for receiving a supply of solidified refrigerant gas, said compartment having a metallic part contacting the refrigerant and removably contacting the metallic lining of the container.

2. A refrigerating metallic lined container having insulative outer walls, a cover for said container composed of insulative material, and a compartment within said cover for receiving a supply of solidified refrigerant gas, said compartment having a metallic base plate acting as a conductor and having portions extending across the cover in spaced relation thereto and said extending portions having perforations therein to permit the circulation of air therethrough.

3. A refrigerating metallic lined container having insulative outer walls, a cover for said container composed of insulative material, and a compartment within said cover for receiving a supply of solidified refrigerant gas, said compartment having a metallic base extending so as to form chambers in said cover and said extending portions having perforations therein to permit the circulation of air therethrough, said container having a foraminated basket therein supported in position with its outer walls spaced from the metallic lined container walls to permit circulation of air in and around said basket.

4. A refrigerating container having an insulative cover with a dry ice compartment therein, said dry ice compartment having a metallic bottom plate extending transversely of the cover beyond the limits of the compartment, and said cover having an air space over and directly adjacent to said plate in the positions beyond thelimits oi' the compartment, said container having a removable receptacle therein spaced irom the walls of the container.

6. A refrigerating container having an insulative cover with a dry ice compartment therein, said dry ice compartment having a metallic bottom plate extending beyond the limits of the compartment, and said cover having an air space contacting with said plate in the positions beyond the limits oi the compartment, said container having a removable receptacle therein spaced from the walls of the container, said cover for said container being composed oi corrugated paperboard.

'7 In a shipping container, a metallic lined box portion, a lid or cover, a compartment in said lid for dry ice, a base plate for the compartment extending beyond the limits of the compartment thus forming enclosed spaces between it and the balance of the lid, said plate extending sufiiciently so that when the lid is closed over the box portion it contacts with the metallic lining oi the box, said plate having perforations therein for air circulation.

8. In a shipping container, a metallic lined box portion, a lid or cover, a compartment in said lid for dry ice, a base plate for the compartment extending beyond the limits of the compartment thus forming enclosed spaces between it and the balance of the lid, said plate extending sufiicient- 1y so that when the lid is closed over the box portion it contacts with the metallic lining of the box, said plate having perforations therein for air circulation, and an insulating plate located beneath the compartment portion to shield the said base plate directly beneath the compartment.

9. A refrigerating container having an insulative cover with a dry ice compartment therein, said dry ice compartment having a metallic bottom plate extending transversely of the cover beyond the limits of the compartment, and said cover having an air space over and directly adjacent to said plate in the positions beyond the limits of the compartment, said base plate hav ance of fragility,

ing an insulating shield thereon located directly beneath the compartment.

10. A refrigerating transportation container comprising an inner metal shell surrounding and supporting the contents of the container, an insulating closure for said shell, an outer insulative cover for the metal shell, of paper stock, lying closely against said metal shell, giving the container an appearance of fragility, holding means within the container for holding material tor promoting refrigeration therein, and a metallic heat conducting, connection from the material .in the holding means to said metal shell.

11. A refrigerating transportation container comprising an inner metal shell, an insulating closure for said shell, an outer cover for the shell 0! paper stock giving the container an appearsaid closure comprising a series oi. transversely arranged compartments and being of insulating material between the compartments, and having a metal plate forming the bottom for said compartments, and being perforated under one compartment, and an insulating member under said plate under the other compartment, said plate having means makin heat conducting contact with said metal shell when the lid is closed, and means within the container for promoting refrigeration therein.

12. A corrugated paper board transportation container having a metal lining, and an insulating closure ior said container having a metal lining enclosing compartments within the cover, and having said lining discontinuous under one compartment for admission of air thereto from the container, another compartment being adapted to receive the refrigerant medium in contact with said plate.

13. A corrugated paper board transportation container having a metal lining, and an insulating. closure for said container having a metal lining enclosing compartments within the cover, and having said lining discontinuous under one compartment for admission of air thereto from the container, another compartment being adapted to receive the refrigerant medium in contact with said plate, and said plate having edge portions to make heat conducting contact with edge portions of the metal lining of the container when the closure is in closed position.

JOHN S. LI'I'I'LEFORD. JR. 

